Brett Graves is the fifth Tiger taken in the top three rounds since 2006.

June 6, 2014

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou junior righty Brett Graves (St. Charles, Missouri) was drafted in the third round of the 2014 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft, continuing a long line of Mizzou starting pitchers drafted in the early rounds. Graves was drafted in the third round, pick 101 overall by the Oakland Athletics. He is the highest-drafted Tiger since Rob Zastryzny went in the second round in 2013. Since 2006, Mizzou has had five pitchers drafted in the top three rounds of the MLB Draft including three first-round picks.

Last season, Graves was the Friday night starter for the Tigers and went 3-6 with a 3.87 ERA. In 14 starts, Graves pitched 93 innings, struck out 64 batters while walking only 18 batters. Graves went at least seven innings in nine of his 14 starts. Over three starts in March, Graves pitched 23 innings, including 16.1 consecutive scoreless innings, allowing one run, 10 hits, two walks, while striking out 20 batters. Graves pitched well enough during that stretch to earn SEC Co-Pitcher of the week on March 3 after a dominating start against UIC.

Several Tigers and Tiger signees will still look to hear their names called in the draft over the next two days. Round 3-10 will conclude on Friday and rounds 10-40 will be chosen on Saturday beginning at noon.

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